Mama Speaks

Green Speaks -- Veggie Friendly Ballparks

Take me out to the ballgame...

The temperatures are rising. The grass is getting greener by the second. I do believe that summer is officially on its way. What kind of memories do you have of your childhood summers? I think about being barefoot, playing in the creek, fireworks, and popsicles. Then there's those special memories of spending time at the ball park watching my heroes from the stands.

I long to provide those same kinds of memories for my boys... but sometimes I don't look forward to heading out to the ball game. Adventures involving food can sometimes be difficult for veggie-loving families. It can even escalate into a logistical nightmare... Do we eat before we go? Do we take a picnic and eat in the parking lot? In the past, it's been hard to find options that line up with a vegetarian lifestyle. Those hot dogs were really great as a kid, but now we're a little more selective. There's always the nachos.... but who knows what's in that cheese sauce!

Enter PETA: Every year, they compile a list of the top 10 Vegetarian Friendly Ball Parks (both major and minor league.) Now, we know where to go to get great vegetarian fare.

According to 2008's survey, topping the list for the major leaguers:

Citizen's Bank Park (Home of the Phillies)- has topped the list for the last two years in a row. I'd definitely be in for a Faux-Philly Cheesesteak or even a "Poppy" sandwich made with roasted eggplant and red peppers and sundried tomatoes.

AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants)- offers great choices like a Portobello Mushroom Sandwich and roasted corn on the cob.

Safeco Field (Home of the Seattle Mariners)- steps it up for the American League offering entrees like veggie sushi, garden burgers, and edamame.

The top three Minor League parks are: MerchantsAuto.Com Stadium (Home of New Hampshire's Fisher Cats), the Durham Bulls' Athletic Park, and PGE Park (Home of the Portland Beavers). They've really come a long way since peanuts and cracker jacks! Check out PETA's website to see the rest of the list and get more details on the winners. Oh, and keep a close eye out for 2009's Winners as the baseball season progresses.

-Whit

Green Speaks -- WalkScore

It's all in the walkability...

This may not be good news for the auto industry... but have you ever thought about ditching your car? Or if you and your significant other both have cars- have you ever thought of cutting back to one? It makes perfect sense for some folks. Walking is easy on the budget - no gas costs or insurance. It's healthier. It's better for our planet. You have more social contact, since you're not isolated in your car. All in all, it can be a very sensible thing to do.

Enter Walk Score. Simply go to their website and enter any address. Then, their patent pending algorithm awards points based on the closeness of different amenities (schools, grocery stores, libraries, parks, bookstores, etc.) to the location. Scores range from 0 (car dependent) to 100 (Walker's Paradise). This could come in handy when you're looking for a new home, especially if you're interested in a car-free or car-lite lifestyle. Unfortunately, my house scored a 12... just about the only place we can walk is Nana's house! But my dream home is in the middle of a Walker's Paradise with a score of 93. 

Browse their website and see if it would be feasible for your family to lighten up and lose a car.

Kaloo

Yoohoo... Kaloo...

Does your family call them "loveys?" Or maybe "blankies?" Well, I've recently been introduced to the wonderful world of Kaloo, and their "doudous" are as cute as can be. They come in all shapes and sizes, and you're sure to find something for the little miracle in your life.

Thankfully, they don't stop with small toys. Kaloo also has a great line of clothing and baby necessities to meet your every whim. The Naturel Small Sleepsack ($100) is made of all organic material and is so soft. I'd dare say it rivals the softness of a sweet newborn baby's head. The sleep sack or "gigoteuse" has been a European tradition for decades, but has recently gained popularity in North America. What I like best about Kaloo's version: the sweet natural embroidery and the safety ties under the arms to keep baby secure. Due to its round shape, it also provides a lot of room for my squirmy little one to kick around at night. And it's also as functional as it is beautiful. The bottom zipper gives you plenty of room for those late night diaper changes.

Browsing their website, I also discovered that Kaloo feels a great deal of corporate responsibility. They take care of our environment by using recycled packaging for shipping and non-toxic materials in their products. They also believe in helping children around the world- they support Unicef and entirely fund a school in the Himalayan region that reaches 150 children. Kaloo also stands for its employee's rights by implementing a "Charter of Human Rights" for their work force. All in all, they're a company that I am proud to support.

Check out their website for more of their great products and to look for a store near you (or online)!

-Whit.

Green Speaks -- Earth Day Guide 2009

When I was a kid, the only place I remember hearing about Earth Day was in an elementary school classroom or maybe PBS. Now it's everywhere. My cereal box not only celebrates Earth Day, but declares April "Earth Month." Nationwide retailers are selling t-shirts made from recycled soda bottles sporting phrases like "Make Peace with Nature" and "Word to Your Mama (Earth)." It's everywhere... and come to think of it- I don't even know where Earth Day came from. So to begin our Earth Day festivities, I thought we could take a look at the history of Earth Day.

The first Earth Day was observed in 1970. It was founded by Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, as a nationwide environmental protest "To shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda." For 10 years, Senator Nelson had made several failed attempts to bring the environment into the limelight. During a conservation and speaking tour on the west coast, inspiration struck.

At the time, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, called "teach-ins," had spread to college campuses all across the nation. Suddenly, the idea occurred to me - why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment? I was satisfied that if we could tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into the environmental cause, we could generate a demonstration that would force this issue onto the political agenda. It was a big gamble, but worth a try.

On April 22, 1970, an estimated 20 million Americans took to the streets, urging their political leaders to stand up and take notice of the effect the American lifestyle was having on the planet. However, the first Earth Day demonstrations had a surprising side effect... groups protesting everything from pesticides to polluting industries suddenly realized that they shared similar beliefs and agendas. Earth Day, 1970, united Republicans and Democrats, farmers and financial analysts, rich and poor. Senator Nelson, along with help from the National Coordinator Denis Hayes, was able to accomplish what has been called "One of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy." Thus, the modern environmental movement was born.

Twenty years later, another environmental campaign swept through Washington, D.C. Coordinator Hayes was able to pull another magic rabbit out of his hat. In 1990, Earth Day went global, uniting 200 million people in 141 countries, paving the way for 1992's United Nation's Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.  Again, in 2000, using the internet and the grassroots activism that Earth Day inspires, Hayes organized a worldwide push for quick and decisive action on clean energy. What does the future for Earth Day bring? Well I've heard there's big plans for Earth Day's 40th birthday in 2010! You can read more about it at Earth Day Network. 

How are you going to celebrate today?

As a mom, my focus today will be on communicating the importance of environmentalism to my kids and celebrating the beauties our planet holds. My hope is that by instilling a love of nature in my sons, they will grow into men that protect the Earth rather than destroy it. Today, we plan on spending plenty of time outside... maybe pack a picnic (with no plastic baggies to blow away in the wind, of course). We'll brainstorm ways to reduce our footprint and pick up some trash by the river. We'll take a hike and maybe even find some rocks to climb on. We'll celebrate our planet and count our blessings. Other suggestions: plant a tree, plant a garden, get involved, evaluate your lifestyle and footprint, walk to the store, go meatless, buy that set of reusable grocery bags you've been eyeing and actually use them, host an impromptu block party and discuss ways you and your neighbors can "go green," carpool, ride your bike, conserve water, start recycling... the possibilities are endless.

Sun & Earth

 For everything under the sun.

I always love finding new eco-friendly cleaning product lines - it means more options for all of us when it comes to protecting the Earth and our families. I've tried many of them over the past few years comparing effectiveness and price, and I have to say that Sun & Earth is way up there on both fronts. I tested a whole slew of their products, and not one of them failed to do anything short of an excellent job in achieving its intended purpose. Even more impressive to me is how comprehensive the Sun & Earth line of products really is, including some items I don't think I've ever seen in an eco-friendly, non-toxic, cruelty-free and vegan form.

Let's start with their collection of laundry-related items [$5-12]. In addition to the 2X Concentrated and Deep Cleaning Detergents, Sun & Earth has a few little additions that are pretty rare. The Dryer Sheets are hypoallergenic, biodegradable and available in Unscented and Fresh Citrus. I have to admit, I've really been missing dryer sheets, so this was pretty exciting for me. And I've never actually used fabric softener before in my life so to do so with theirs was also a welcome surprise. But I have to give special props to the new Sun & Earth On The Spot Instant Stain Remover. Seriously, I don't know how they did this, but it's awesome. I believe my husband's exact words while using it on his newly salad dressing-stained pants were, "This is amazing . . . How does it do this?"

Now onto the kitchen sink. Their line of dish products [$3-6] includes the Ultra Dish Liquid, the Xtra Concentrated version of the same, and the Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Pacs. All are great (and affordable!). And that's really saying something because I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been searching for an effective detergent for use in the dishwasher - I've had some that, while non-toxic and safe, really just don't do the job and leave me standing there, staring into the machine trying to figure out if it's been run. But not so this time. This one is biodegradable, safe for use even for kid items, and it totally works. No more drinking from glasses with my own lip stains.

Shall I keep going? All righty then. They have general housecleaning products too - an All-Purpose Spray Cleaner and a Glass Cleaner [$4], which, between the two of them, pretty much cover every possible surface that one needs to clean. They do the job and smell great too. The Fresh Citrus Scent for all of these products comes from orange oil, which is sweet, natural and not at all over the top.

When you're done with everything, wash your hands of it all with the Liquid Hand Soap [$4], which, like so many of their other products, is ideal for those of us with sensitive skin.

Sun & Earth products are available at many of your local retailers and on their website.

Win It!
We have a Sun & Earth Reusable Folding Shopping Bag filled with coupons for a free dishwashing liquid, an all-purpose or glass cleaner, and a laundry detergent, fabric softener or dryer sheets. To enter email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Sun & Earth as your subject and tell us what makes these products smell so yummy. Giveaway ends 4.24.09.

- Beth

Green Speaks -- Earth Day 2009

T-minus 7 days and counting...

When I was a kid, Earth Day was really celebrated only within the confines of an elementary school classroom. We might have a special project, like planting a tree or picking up litter from a creek, but that was it. Fast forward a few years and everyone is partying. Even the big box stores are selling shirts made from recycled plastic to mark the day.

We're gearing up for Earth Day 2009 at Mama Speaks and we want you to be "in the know" about what's going on in your area to celebrate. There's community projects...nationwide intiatives... lectures... festivals. That's where the Earth Day Network comes in. They've got some big plans leading up to the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. Check out their website to locate events near you or register your own. Let's get ready to celebrate our "Mama Earth" and get involved!

Green Speaks -- America's Greenest

Green in the City

Many U.S. cities from east to west are taking significant steps to "green up their act." Some are even using eco-projects and government incentives to create jobs and boost their economy. Phil Gordon, the mayor of Phoenix, AZ, recently unveiled a 17 point plan to help create America's first "Carbon-neutral" metropolis. The plans include initiatives to retrofit outdated buildings to current LEED standards, encourage hometown agriculture by promoting community gardens and CSA's, and even changing out street lights. You can read more about their plans at The Arizona Republic.

Popular Science Magazine recently revealed America's Top 50 Green Cities. Who made the top 10?

1) Portland, Oregon
2) San Francisco, California
3) Boston, Massachusetts
4) Oakland, California
5) Eugene, Oregon
6) Cambridge, Massachusetts
7) Berkeley, California
8) Seattle, Washington
9) Chicago, Illinois
10) Austin, Texas

The cities were given a score and rank based on 4 different factors: electricity, transportation, green living, and recycling and green perspective. California is the clear leader, with 14 cities in the top 50, but you might be surprised by some cities that made the top 50. View the rest of the list and find out more about how they were ranked on the magazine's website, here.

-Whit.

Green Speaks -- Recycling Refresher (Week 4)

The Tin Can Man...

When I was a little girl, I always had a blast crushing the cans in my Granddaddy's garage.  He had a special "can smusher" mounted on the wall and he always saved up a big bag of cans for when I visited. (He's a big fan of Mountain Dew...) But, did you know that you don't really have to crush cans for recycling- unless of course you want to have a "macho man" contest and do it on your forehead. Aluminum cans are the most valuable recyclable.  They can be recycled again and again, and the reclamation process is so efficient that they can make it from your curb back to the shelf in as little as 60 days.  Here's some interesting recycling facts about other types of metals:

• Scrap metal makes up one of the largest exports that the United States sends to China. In fact, according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) there are “150 million metric tons of scrap materials recycled annually including: 81.6 million tons of iron and steel, 5 million tons of aluminum, 1.8 million tons of copper and 2 million tons of stainless steel.”  That's a lot of metal.
• Did you know you can recycle your old washer, dryer, or fridge? Many appliances can be recycled. Check with the retailer, because often the same folks who deliver your new fridge know where to take the old one to be recycled. Some will even take it themselves!
• Recycling wire clothes hangers can be tricky, since they're often coated with plastic to protect your favorite cashmere sweater. While most hangers today are made of plastic (that was probably recycled), wire hangers are still used by dry cleaners. The best way to solve this problem- collect them and send them back to your dry cleaner. This will help your dry cleaner keep prices low, especially since the price of wire hanger imports from China nearly doubled in 2008. 

Sassy, Glassy...

Recycling glass is a fairly easy process. While the color of the glass does play a role in where it can be recycled, the process is generally the same. First, the glass is sorted by color. Next, the bottles and jars are crushed into tiny bits called "cullet." This cullet can go straight to the furnace to make new bottles and jars, or it can be sent to manufacturers who mix it  with virgin materials. The elements and ions used to color glass are not always removable, so glass often spends its many lifetimes in the same color family. Glass that can not be easily sorted by color can be crushed further and used to help prevent beach erosion or to make "glassphalt."

When recycling glass at home, don't worry if you can get the lime out of the bottle or the last drop of peanut butter from the jar. The heating process used in recycling takes care of contaminants. If possible, do rinse your jars and bottles. It keeps the bugs away and prevents any nasty smells from infecting your recycling bins. I'm sure your recyclers would appreciate it too.

I hope you've learned at least one new fact about recycling this month. If you're hungry for more, check out Earth911. They can help you find a local recycling service, as well as send you into information overload. From this point forward, there's no excuses... so keep it real- and recycled!

-Whit.

Earth Hour

Can you commit to powering down for 60 minutes?

Join us in Earth Hour!

Green Speaks -- Recycling Refresher (Week 3)

Fantastic Plastic!

Do you remember those commercials from a few years back? The ones that always ended with the saying, "Plastic makes it possible." From firefighters to astronauts, doctors to moms... plastic really does make a lot of things possible (or at least easier). Unfortunately, that plastic comes at a high cost to our environment. In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each, but recycled only about 23 percent. That leaves 38 billion in our landfills.

Let's start by learning a little about how plastic gets recycled. When plastic reaches the recycling plant, it is mechanically sorted by what type of plastic it is.  (That's where the numbers on the milk jug come in...) The number designates what type of resin was used to produce the plastic.  Each resin is different, so the number affects how and where you can recycle them. Here's a list of some common products of each type:

#1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate): soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays and water bottles

#2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene): milk bottles, detergent bottles and grocery/trash/retail bags

#3 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders and plastic pipes

#4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): dry cleaning bags, produce bags and squeezable bottles

#5 PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps, drinking straws and food containers (such as yogurt, ketchup bottles and sour cream/butter/hummus tubs)

#6 PS (Polystyrene): compact disc jackets, packaging Styrofoam peanuts and plastic tableware

#7 Other: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware

Numbers 1 and 2 are the most common types, so they're generally the easiest to recycle. 

Once the plastics are sorted, they are ground into tiny, plastic flakes. Then the plastic is cleaned and fed into a furnace where it is further processed or broken down into its individual parts. Then the resulting plastic polymer mixture is used to make new items like t-shirts, plastic lumber for backyard furniture, or soda bottles.

The energy saved by recycling one plastic bottle is enough to power a computer for 25 minutes, which is just long enough to catch up on your daily reads, check the weather, and shop for a new skirt.  Make sure you're doing your part by recycling household plastics. Check with your recycling service for a detailed description of what types of plastic they take- don't let your knowledge go to waste!

Check back with us next week for the final installment of the Recycling Refresher.

-Whit.